5 Jacksonville Jaguars under the most scrutiny at 2021 training camp

Jacksonville Jaguars player under scrutiny No. 3 – DT Taven Bryan

This list couldn’t be complete without defensive tackle Taven Bryan. The Jaguars could have taken quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 29th overall pick in 2018’s draft but chose the Florida product instead.

Jackson went on to become the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019 while Bryan has been a non-factor over his three-year tenure in Jacksonville. To the former Gator’s credit, he has managed to stay healthy and has never missed a game. However, he hasn’t done much on the field, logging 71 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 48 games. There are players that can register that kind of production in just one season.

Bryan should be on the roster bubble ahead of the 2021 season. The Jaguars opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal but the defensive tackle still has several supporters in Jacksonville. Head coach Urban Meyer said the team wanted him in Jacksonville while defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi thinks he could be a great contributor in 2021.

Last season, Bryan was outperformed by then-rookies DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin. He will need to compete for playing time in 2021 but it won’t be easy. The Jags traded for Malcom Brown earlier this year and drafted Jay Tufele.

It will be hard for Bryan to stand out in training camp. He’s running out of chances to prove he was worth being drafted in the first round.